The Light Music Hall of Fame

These pages were last edited on April 26, 2017

Composers and Arrangers of Light Music

For more information about a particular composer and recommend
works, click on his name if it is underlined...Those names which are
not yet underlined are being researched, and information will be
posted as soon as the process is complete.

First we honor composer/arrangers who made major contributions to the
field of Light Music and who are favorites of the authors of this Web
Site:

Following are "arranger/stylists", who were known for their strong
individual styles applied to every piece. In realizing the
arrangements for recordings they sometimes almost "re-composed" a
piece. They were admired craftsmen, even though they were celebrated
more for their distinctive arranging, performing, or producing
styles, than for writing original compositions

Please note: we do not choose to honor here every pop music arranger
working in the field, only those who in our opinion made a
distinctively unique contribution to the art of arranging light
music...

Here are some composer/arrangers of what used to be called "Mood
Music" or "Cue Music", now called "Production Music." Usually it is
sold as part of a Music Scoring Service or Production Music Library.
"Library tracks" are licensed on a non-exclusive basis, for use as
background cues, Main Titles, or End Credits Themes for radio, TV,
and films. In the "Classic" days of film, radio and TV it was
commissioned by European music publishers who had developed a
recorded music division; or -- in the U.S. -- it was more often the
result of a composer or music packager who wanted to re-cycle music
composed for a different production.

Sometimes the original cue was "laundered" by having a few notes
changed and the structure switched around, and then the whole thing
re-recorded by a foreign orchestra, so it could be given a new title
for the purpose of collecting performance royalties.

Often this music has multiple uses down through the years, or becomes
associated with different programs in different countries. The tunes
can be familiar and memorable, even if the composers' names are
unknown. We honor those unsung heroes -- composers whose "Mood
Music"was particularly memorable, and fits the style of Light Music
as well. They are listed here in roughly chronological order of
birth:

And finally, some more modern songwriters who wrote songs (including
theme songs for TV and motion pictures) that crossed over into pop
music as well, and become known to fans of Light Music through
various media and recorded arrangements:

In the following list, we also give Honorable Mention to
composers, arrangers, and conductors, who --
although they did not make our own "Hall of Fame list" for various
reasons having to do with
time-frame, style, or subjective matters of taste -- have been
suggested by various correspondents: